Signs of Depression

Depression is a treatable and transient state of mind that is often characterized by:

• Loss of interest in things you normally enjoy
• Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Problems falling asleep, staying asleep, waking too early or sleeping too much
• Unexplained decrease or increase in appetite, resulting in weight gain or loss within the last month.
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, remembering, and making decisions
• Extreme tiredness or lack of energy that interferes with your ability to work or take care of your daily responsibilities
• Feeling restless, unable to sit still, or abnormally slow when moving [Source: Spark People]

If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, seek help quickly as negative thoughts can have a snowball effect resulting in an avalanche feeling. 

It is important to remember that  someone who has been depressed and now seems to be much better may have decided on suicide as an alternative to the dark feelings and should be monitored for awhile through continuing therapy. 

I give a seminar on suicide risk minimization and would be happy to speak to your group or workplace on this and other topics. For public speaking engagements, or to schedule an individual therapy session,  please call 954-612-9553.

Autumn Hahn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist specializing in short-term therapies, and practicing in South Florida with Clear Mind Group.

Forgive is Not Forget

 

Who do you need to forgive? A parent, a friend, a relative, yourself? Remember that forgiveness has nothing to do with approving an action. If someone wronged you, harmed you, or blocked you from greatness at a given point in time, you can forgive the action without condoning it. 

We each are doing the best we can with where we are in life at this moment. If you think of people in that way, as doing the best on their limited resources in that moment, in every moment, you can begin to see where forgiveness can take place. You can see that moment with clear intentions and that those actions, though harmful in the end, were an act of compassion or caring or maybe even negligence, but not malice. And unless someone acts maliciously, we can forgive them. We can see people as misguided and wrong, even, without acting with intent to harm. And that's something we can forgive. 

We don't want to forget. We want to move forward with clear hearts and clear minds so we can see people as they are and live each full new experience being fully present. But those feelings of resentment, of anger, of hurt, of turmoil, those can be released, freeing up the energy it took to store them and utilizing it for healing, dreaming, thinking, learning, and loving. 

"Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself," said Suzanne Somers, and it's true. That energy you use holding onto negativity hurts only you. The other person may not even know you feel that way anymore. Are you ready to explore forgiveness?

Autumn Hahn, LMHC, CHt holds sessions in Weston, Florida and can clear trauma and resentment in 2-6 sessions. Call 954-612-9553 for an appointment and to discuss your specific treatment needs.